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LIQUIDTHINKING IS: Stephen Zedler Jimmy Doyle Andy Mullins Current Sountrack
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OUR READING LIST Currently Reading Church and Theology Culture and Society Biblical Studies ARCHIVES 
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Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Today's (Upper-Middle Class, White) Christian Woman Somehow, my wife and I got a subscription to "Today's Christian Woman," which apparently is a subsidiary of "Christianity, Today." It contains all kinds of wonderful tidbits in it, such as how to find a hobby as a young mom, and interviews with celebrities like Kathy Lee Gifford, telling us how Jesus helped her not to punch Frank right in the face. Most of the articles seem geared toward upper-middle class women in the conservative christian culture. Our new issue arrived today with an article on how to find a church home. Should be interesting, right? Five questions to ask: 1) Does the Church preach the right message? Don't go to a place that "waters down" the gospel just to put butts in pews. You can do this by making sure the pastor QUOTES, not paraphrases, scripture, and taking careful notes so that you can check up on the sneak at home. 2) Make sure it's a caring community. Right on! Now we're getting somewhere. You can make sure they do this by 1) checking if the people who sit around you introduce themselves, 2) seeing if a pastor or a visitation team offers to visit you, 3) people your age or stage of life (however you choose to categorize yourself) invite you to participate in events, and 4) the church offers programs to meet "special needs," like divorce programs or 12-step programs. So why am I not so excited anymore? 3) Does the church provide meaningful worship? You can tell this if 1) the "worship" doesn't feel forced, 2) when your mind AND HEART are engaged during a service, 3) when you feel welcome to participate in a way that MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE (this is verbatim, folks!), and 4) when the tone focuses on who God is rather than on human talents and personalities. 4) Is the church location convenient? Ways to get this one right: 1) When your kids see some church kids at school, 2) When driving to an evening or mid-week event doesn't leave you exhausted, and 3) When a church small-group is located in your neighborhood. Finally... 5) Can you "plug-in" to this church's serving opportunities? (Wasn't this covered in number 2?) How do you know? 1) When you read the bulletin and see programs that fit your spiritual gifts and interests, 2) Once you've located one of said programs and you contact the appropriate minister, you are given a "concrete, welcoming invitation to participate, and 3) when a ministry leader ACTUALLY INITIATES contact with you to invite you to participate in a ministry. They used the word "actually," not me. So there you have it, guys. Those of you who've been lolligaggin' around on Sunday morning, it's time to wake up and smell yourselves. Armed with the 5 questions, you have no excuse. Get out there and get busy!
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Jimmy Doyle is a dad, husband,
teacher, friend, and other things. Currently he's just trying to figure out what it means to follow Christ and be in community with others. He enjoys having conversations with fellow pilgrims on the journey.
Stephen Zedler has a wife and three kids who he loves very much. He has been called by God to study and teach history, particularly U.S.
history. He also believes that God has called him to reform the way children are educated in America.